The chief minister announced on August 30 that the professor’s death was as an accident. His statement was widely covered in the media.

The following day a Congress delegation, led by Leader of Opposition Jamuna Devi, called on the Governor and urged him to sanction the chief minister’s prosecution for misleading the CID investigation into the murder. The Congress memorandum pointed out that under sections 199, 200, 201, 202, 203 and 186 of the IPC, a case can be slapped on Chouhan.

Jamuna Devi lodged a complaint against the chief minister at the TT Nagar police station on Friday. When the police officer refused to file an FIR, Congress leaders staged a demonstration.

In a letter written to principal secretary (law) P P Tiwari, Governor Secretary Bhupal Singh referred to Jamuna Devi’s memorandum and asked for legal opinion on the matter. Jamuna Devi said the Chouhan’s statement amounted to ‘influencing’ the course of investigation which is a crime under the IPC and hence she needed sanction from the Governor to prosecute him since the CM is a public servant.